Journal 1 July 14, 1789 My morning started out really bad! Our sickle wasn’t sharp enough to do anything so my father sent me with some grain to go to the blacksmith to have it sharpened. I remember hearing there was a nice blacksmith in Neuilly-sur Seine. I’ve never met that guy but according to my friend I met in the market a couple of days ago, he has good skills. I didn't feel like going all the way to Neuilly-sur Seine but there weren't any blacksmiths around my area. Feeling very exhausted and lazy, I woke up earlier than usual at 4 AM and headed out with the grain to give the blacksmith. It wasn’t a very long way to Neuilly-sur Seine but since it was pretty hot, the journey was very bad. I got very hungry when it was 12 so I took out the small bread I brought and started to chew on it. I came near Neuilly by 4. I was trying to search for the blacksmith but I got distracted from a beautiful music. There was a boy playing a violin. When he finished his song, I gave him some of the grain I brought. He seemed very happy! We seemed to be about the same age. I decided to spend some time talking to him. He greeted me happily. His name was Bernard Montague and was 15 years old. He said he works in a bakery and plays his violin in the street as a street musician. I told him I had to go meet the blacksmith and he offered to take me there so I won’t get lost. With his help, I could get to the blacksmith by 5. Bernard left as soon as we arrived to the blacksmith. The blacksmith was called Renaud Durand. He was a very skinny man with calloused hands. Just like my market friend told me, he was a nice person. By looking at his workplace, it seemed like he was a very hardworking man. I gave him the grains I brought and he sharpened my sickle. Before leaving, we talked for a while. He was 32 years old and he was the fourth generation of being a blacksmith in his family history. At about 5:30, I left and headed back home. I went faster and took shorter breaks while going home since I wanted to go home and sleep early.
I got home late. When I got home, my father quickly grabbed me inside the house and told me about what happened to Bastille. First was I was pretty disappointed since I thought he would greet my warmly when I got home. Bastille is a prison in Paris and today a bunch of people came and took control of the prison building. My father doesn't know any details about what happened so I guess I'll try figuring it out tomorrow after having some sleep since I feel half dead right now. My father is worried that it will be a big part of a revolution or something but I feel so tired I don't even have to energy to worry about that right now. Good night!
Journal 2 July 28, 1794 I woke up thinking it was going to be a typical day. I ate my small piece of bread and gave some to my younger sisters. I was trying to go see how our crops were doing until my dad told me I can have a break on farming. I told him I’ll just help him since I had nothing to do. He told me that today was the execution day of Robespierre. I don’t know a lot about him but I heard some information about him from my father. He didn’t seem like the best leader. I know that he gained power from 1793 and became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. I’m a type of person that doesn’t enjoy watching executions, especially the ones on the guillotine since I feel sick watching it. Even though I didn’t want to stay home farming, going to watch someone die was even worse. Although I didn’t like these stuff, I felt curious about why people went to watch these things for entertainment so I decided to go. “I can close my eyes if I feel sick” I repeated to myself as I got ready to go. I left my house to go watch the execution of Robespierre. Feeling nervous, I took small steps to the execution area. There was another man walking towards the same direction as me. I took a deep breath and started talking to him since I wanted to know if he was going to the execution. His name was Henri Cartier and he was 5 years older than me. we talked about how the bread price was going up and how hard it is to get food. He was a farmer too so we could relate very easily on difficulties of farming life. We arrived to the execution place and waited patiently until the execution began. The execution was about to begin but I couldn't stand watching the execution so just quickly ran out of the area. Now that I think of it, I'm glad I just came home without watching it. I don't understand why people watch those horrible scenes for entertainment!
Journal 3 October 17, 1802 Europe is finally at peace! Today I was walking down the market buying some bread for our family while a news reporter ran across screaming “peace is here! Peace is here!” Many people were confused since they didn’t know exactly what the news reporter was talking about. Some people still cheered since they heard that peace was here. France has been in war for 10 years so this day was a big celebration day! I tried to talk to the news reporter for more information. Surprisingly, the news reporter was my friend Bastien Roux! We were delighted to meet each other and we decided to go have dinner together since we both had some free time. I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about the war since our family didn’t have a lot of access to any detailed news. I asked Bastien about some basic and important events that happened in the past few years. According to Bastien, Napoleon was directed as the French leader in 1796 and won a lot of battles. The army had some difficulties in places like Egypt but by all the information I heard from him, Napoleon seemed like a great hero and I’m glad he was chosen as the leader! We were talking happily when a stranger came by. He just heard about the peace and wanted to know some information too. He was a fisherman called Alexandre Constantin. He was a solider before but since he retired a long time ago, he didn’t know a lot of information about what was happening in the military. We were both curious about how Europe finally got peace. Bastien told us that in 1799, Britain, Austria, and Russia tried to drive Napoleon from his power but since Napoleon was an intelligent guy, he rode from Paris at the head of his troops and the horrible situation ended with all three nations signing a peace agreement with France. We’re all happy that peace is finally here! I asked Bastien if his life improved or had any effects because of this revolution. He just gave me a smile. I couldn’t really understand what that smile meant but I smiled back too since these thoughts could be personal to some people.
I think the revolution didn’t give any positive changes on my life. To be honest, I had a really hard time earning money to feed my family and I liked the days before the revolution better. I really hope the bread prices will drop pretty soon. Our family hopes that Europe will remain in peace forever. I was really happy that I had this diary to write my feelings in. I’m not sure when the next time I’ll write in it will be but until that day comes, bye! Character Name: Simeon Thayer Age: 18 Gender: Male
Occupation: Farmer Social Class: Third estate, Peasant Financial situation: Works in the farm with his father, making very little money by selling crops harvested since the land is bad. Appearance: He has brown eyes and brown curly hair with white skin. Location: Paris, Passy Habitual locations: Farm Daily routine: Wake up at 4 AM and have breakfast until 5 AM and work in the field until 6 PM. Working includes reaping, sowing, ploughing, binding, haymaking, threshing, etc. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Has a very bright personality outside but his inside is very gloomy. He never shares bad things with people and always tries to act positive when with others, including his own family. Past/individual-family history: His mother used to cook and do the housework but now that she’s sick, it is Simeon’s job to make food while helping his father with the farm. His two younger sisters are just at home doing nothing. Family: Father, mother (currently sick from unknown disease), two younger sisters (7 and 8 years old) Social relations with your own and other classes: I have some friends I met in the market a couple of days ago. They’re helping their family earn money just like me. I feel comfortable when I talk to them since we’re in the same positions. I’ve actually never seen rich people in my life. The market is full of people like us. I’m pretty jealous of the rich though. Their life seems pretty amazing! I’m still happy with my life too since we’re at least not starving. Religion: None Education: No education because he helped his father in the farm from when he was young Languages you speak: French Main privileges and/or hardships: The bad soil and weather conditions are making it hard for the family to grow crops to sell and earn money. Portrait:
French Revolution Ant Farm- Yun Ji Chung 9A
Journal 1
July 14, 1789
My morning started out really bad! Our sickle wasn’t sharp enough to do anything so my father sent me with some grain to go to the blacksmith to have it sharpened. I remember hearing there was a nice blacksmith in Neuilly-sur Seine. I’ve never met that guy but according to my friend I met in the market a couple of days ago, he has good skills. I didn't feel like going all the way to Neuilly-sur Seine but there weren't any blacksmiths around my area. Feeling very exhausted and lazy, I woke up earlier than usual at 4 AM and headed out with the grain to give the blacksmith. It wasn’t a very long way to Neuilly-sur Seine but since it was pretty hot, the journey was very bad. I got very hungry when it was 12 so I took out the small bread I brought and started to chew on it. I came near Neuilly by 4. I was trying to search for the blacksmith but I got distracted from a beautiful music. There was a boy playing a violin. When he finished his song, I gave him some of the grain I brought. He seemed very happy! We seemed to be about the same age. I decided to spend some time talking to him. He greeted me happily. His name was Bernard Montague and was 15 years old. He said he works in a bakery and plays his violin in the street as a street musician. I told him I had to go meet the blacksmith and he offered to take me there so I won’t get lost. With his help, I could get to the blacksmith by 5. Bernard left as soon as we arrived to the blacksmith. The blacksmith was called Renaud Durand. He was a very skinny man with calloused hands. Just like my market friend told me, he was a nice person. By looking at his workplace, it seemed like he was a very hardworking man. I gave him the grains I brought and he sharpened my sickle. Before leaving, we talked for a while. He was 32 years old and he was the fourth generation of being a blacksmith in his family history. At about 5:30, I left and headed back home. I went faster and took shorter breaks while going home since I wanted to go home and sleep early.
I got home late. When I got home, my father quickly grabbed me inside the house and told me about what happened to Bastille. First was I was pretty disappointed since I thought he would greet my warmly when I got home. Bastille is a prison in Paris and today a bunch of people came and took control of the prison building. My father doesn't know any details about what happened so I guess I'll try figuring it out tomorrow after having some sleep since I feel half dead right now. My father is worried that it will be a big part of a revolution or something but I feel so tired I don't even have to energy to worry about that right now. Good night!
Journal 2
July 28, 1794
I woke up thinking it was going to be a typical day. I ate my small piece of bread and gave some to my younger sisters. I was trying to go see how our crops were doing until my dad told me I can have a break on farming. I told him I’ll just help him since I had nothing to do. He told me that today was the execution day of Robespierre. I don’t know a lot about him but I heard some information about him from my father. He didn’t seem like the best leader. I know that he gained power from 1793 and became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. I’m a type of person that doesn’t enjoy watching executions, especially the ones on the guillotine since I feel sick watching it. Even though I didn’t want to stay home farming, going to watch someone die was even worse. Although I didn’t like these stuff, I felt curious about why people went to watch these things for entertainment so I decided to go. “I can close my eyes if I feel sick” I repeated to myself as I got ready to go. I left my house to go watch the execution of Robespierre. Feeling nervous, I took small steps to the execution area. There was another man walking towards the same direction as me. I took a deep breath and started talking to him since I wanted to know if he was going to the execution. His name was Henri Cartier and he was 5 years older than me. we talked about how the bread price was going up and how hard it is to get food. He was a farmer too so we could relate very easily on difficulties of farming life. We arrived to the execution place and waited patiently until the execution began. The execution was about to begin but I couldn't stand watching the execution so just quickly ran out of the area. Now that I think of it, I'm glad I just came home without watching it. I don't understand why people watch those horrible scenes for entertainment!
Journal 3
October 17, 1802
Europe is finally at peace! Today I was walking down the market buying some bread for our family while a news reporter ran across screaming “peace is here! Peace is here!” Many people were confused since they didn’t know exactly what the news reporter was talking about. Some people still cheered since they heard that peace was here. France has been in war for 10 years so this day was a big celebration day! I tried to talk to the news reporter for more information. Surprisingly, the news reporter was my friend Bastien Roux! We were delighted to meet each other and we decided to go have dinner together since we both had some free time. I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about the war since our family didn’t have a lot of access to any detailed news. I asked Bastien about some basic and important events that happened in the past few years. According to Bastien, Napoleon was directed as the French leader in 1796 and won a lot of battles. The army had some difficulties in places like Egypt but by all the information I heard from him, Napoleon seemed like a great hero and I’m glad he was chosen as the leader! We were talking happily when a stranger came by. He just heard about the peace and wanted to know some information too. He was a fisherman called Alexandre Constantin. He was a solider before but since he retired a long time ago, he didn’t know a lot of information about what was happening in the military. We were both curious about how Europe finally got peace. Bastien told us that in 1799, Britain, Austria, and Russia tried to drive Napoleon from his power but since Napoleon was an intelligent guy, he rode from Paris at the head of his troops and the horrible situation ended with all three nations signing a peace agreement with France. We’re all happy that peace is finally here! I asked Bastien if his life improved or had any effects because of this revolution. He just gave me a smile. I couldn’t really understand what that smile meant but I smiled back too since these thoughts could be personal to some people.
I think the revolution didn’t give any positive changes on my life. To be honest, I had a really hard time earning money to feed my family and I liked the days before the revolution better. I really hope the bread prices will drop pretty soon. Our family hopes that Europe will remain in peace forever. I was really happy that I had this diary to write my feelings in. I’m not sure when the next time I’ll write in it will be but until that day comes, bye!
Character
Name: Simeon Thayer
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Occupation: Farmer
Social Class: Third estate, Peasant
Financial situation: Works in the farm with his father, making very little money by selling crops harvested since the land is bad.
Appearance: He has brown eyes and brown curly hair with white skin.
Location: Paris, Passy
Habitual locations: Farm
Daily routine: Wake up at 4 AM and have breakfast until 5 AM and work in the field until 6 PM. Working includes reaping, sowing, ploughing, binding, haymaking, threshing, etc.
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Has a very bright personality outside but his inside is very gloomy. He never shares bad things with people and always tries to act positive when with others, including his own family.
Past/individual-family history: His mother used to cook and do the housework but now that she’s sick, it is Simeon’s job to make food while helping his father with the farm. His two younger sisters are just at home doing nothing.
Family: Father, mother (currently sick from unknown disease), two younger sisters (7 and 8 years old)
Social relations with your own and other classes: I have some friends I met in the market a couple of days ago. They’re helping their family earn money just like me. I feel comfortable when I talk to them since we’re in the same positions. I’ve actually never seen rich people in my life. The market is full of people like us. I’m pretty jealous of the rich though. Their life seems pretty amazing! I’m still happy with my life too since we’re at least not starving.
Religion: None
Education: No education because he helped his father in the farm from when he was young
Languages you speak: French
Main privileges and/or hardships: The bad soil and weather conditions are making it hard for the family to grow crops to sell and earn money.
Portrait: